No study of India is complete without understanding the Vedas, the bedrock of the country’s cultural life. ‘Veda’ in Sanskrit means knowledge which it provides to lead a wholesome life sans any conflict or confusion. Interestingly, the topics covered by the Vedas are not bound by narrow parameters like time, region or religion. They are eternal and their relevance transcends all such barriers. What makes them unique is that they mandate no allegiance to any prophet or scriptures and were handed down from generation to generation by mere word of mouth.

Veda Vyasa, the great sage is credited with the collation of existing Vedic mantras and organizing them into the four groups namely the Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva.